Family:

Apocynaceae

Habitat:

Cultivated plant

Growth habit:

herbaceous

Plant size:

0,2 - 0,8 m

Flower colour:

blue to purple

Flowering time

May - August

Leaf characteristics:

two to three pinnately lobed leaves, mostly sparsely thorny, underside with grey felt-like hairs

Flower characteristics:

basket-shaped inflorescence, bracts often edged and thornless

Fruits:

2 - 8 mm long achenes, pappus of 2 - 3.5 cm long feathery bristles

Special features:

The base of the inflorescence is very fleshy and is harvested and eaten with the lower part of the bracts. Artichoke extracts are obtained for medicinal purposes from the leaves before the flower sprout grows out.